Locally, a group of Linux advocates set up Sahana, a collection of web based disaster management applications that provides solutions to large-scale humanitarian coordination and collaboration in disaster situation and its aftermath. It’s a good start for us to have a centralized area for any possible communication when disaster strikes. There are also others who have been tweeting and plurking the latest news. The updates were related to volunteer work, how to give relief goods, as well as tips on how to check on your car when it gets flooded to info on which shop offers services to laptops which needed to be serviced/recovered after the flood. I also received messages from friends in other countries and amidst the time differences it is heart-warming to receive messages from those who care.

Personally, I am glad that technology is not only used to improve one’s work. It is also being used to effectively disseminate information needed. This way, we’re able to not just be updated about where the storm is going but what we could do when it hits, etc. It also helps us track which shelters need more supplies, or more volunteers and so on.

This is one heck of a learning experience for all of us, I think. Especially for us in the Philippines. It’s a matter of preparation and coordination among people so we could adapt to whatever storms (literally and figuratively) that might hit us.

Post from: New Linux User

I met Sacha through blogging. Technically we knew each other from high school but we mainly connected when I started learning about Linux 5 years ago. She’s one of the most encouraging people I’ve met and she even helped me throughout the time that I was panicking when I got a kernel panic message. She is also an Emacs and Drupal geek and her blog’s really a great resource on those topics, as well as how to have a well-balanced life.

Anyhow, her slideshow talks about how to be the shy connector. After all, not everyone is an extrovert. And when you happen to be an introvert things could be difficult when it comes to advocating Linux or even teaching someone about it. It won’t come as easy as you would like it to.

The point is that you can bring something in the conversation. Especially because you are interested and/or passionate about something such as Linux. Come to think of it, I’ve met people through blogging and Linux but I am essentially an introvert myself. There are times when I go to events and I realize I am so not a people person. But when I find someone or a small group of people to talk with, it gets easier for me. And it also gets easier for me get people together, because I know who have similar interests. You can’t just let yourself be alone all the time. I suppose that there are days that you can’t help but want the quiet times. Interactions with other people let us grow as we help others too.

With this, I hope that you will and have learned something about being a shy connector. And I hope that it has given you a new perspective when it comes to teaching and advocating Linux and open source software.

Post from: New Linux User

Anyhow, Juliet Kemp sounds like an awesome geek for doing this. Taking the time to travel and just see the world. Of course there had to concessions for things like what computer to bring, how to keep earning a living, etc. The author of the article also cited how to maintain being online while on the go since it was a ten-month long travel. Aside from that the author was connecting to servers on the other side of the planet using an Asus EEEPC. Which was something quite interesting. The only way to access them is from the little Asus EEEPC machine and varying internet speeds.

This is really an inspiring article for Linux geeks who might have been thinking of how to go around and travel. It’s not always easy to leave work behind because of fears that there might be issues that would come up and you won’t be there to fix it. But really, having access to servers via your terminal and having all sorts of neat tools are quite helpful. This article makes me think that sys ads could indeed consider working from home too even if they’re mostly maintaining servers and not helping people on their desktop machines.

After reading this article, I could say that Linux geeks could have fun too. There are ways and this particular Linux geek showed us how.

Post from: New Linux User

The great thing about reading Karin’s blog is that she talks about her experiences with OSes, Ubuntu in particular, as well as her passion for spreading more knowledge about the Creative Commons. There are times that she’s been having some OS woes and yet she still explores the technology for her everyday use. And that’s something I enjoy reading about aside from how-to’s and Linux news. Everyone has a story to share and she does share hers so I hope that you too will do the same. It might be that I don’t know about certain Linux topics and you know about them so it’s better that you show me what you know so I could learn from you too.

I’ve been blogging about the things I like and the things I learn. It’s because I enjoy doing that. I see that in Karin too. For me, she’s one of the encouraging Linux users to read because she’s saying things that happen and what she has learned from the experience. It’s actually something that helps other Linux users because it does leave traces of us and Linux online.

What I also love about her blog OS Agnostic is it’s tagline:It’s not the OS you use, but what you do with it that counts. Agree or disagree? Maybe you have other thoughts you’d want to share so I hope you’d send some comments and I’d moderate them as soon as I can.

Post from: New Linux User